Electrosurgical apparatus

Abstract

An electrosurgical apparatus is provided having a rechargeable power source which may be charged wirelessly. The apparatus comprises an oscillator for generating electromagnetic (EM) energy (e.g. radiofrequency energy or microwave frequency energy); a controller operable to select an energy delivery profile for the oscillator; a feed structure for conveying the electromagnetic energy to an output; a rechargeable power source arranged to supply power to the oscillator; and a receiver circuit comprising an inductive coupler configured to wirelessly receive power from a transmitter and supply received power to the rechargeable power source. The selection of an energy delivery profile may involve switching the oscillator on or off in one example, or may comprise more complex operation such as the selection of a pulse profile in some embodiments.

1 . An electrosurgical apparatus comprising:
 an oscillator for generating electromagnetic energy;   a controller operable to select an energy delivery profile for the oscillator;   a feed structure for conveying the electromagnetic energy to an output;   a rechargeable power source arranged to supply power to the oscillator; and   a receiver circuit comprising an inductive coupler configured to wirelessly receive power from a transmitter and supply received power to the rechargeable power source, wherein   the feed structure comprises a transformer, and   wherein the inductive coupler comprises a secondary coil of the transformer.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An electrosurgical apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein for every one turn of a primary coil of the transformer there are at least ten turns of a secondary coil of the transformer. 
     
     
         3 . An electrosurgical apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a radiofrequency electromagnetic energy generator, and wherein the feed structure comprises a radiofrequency channel to convey the radiofrequency electromagnetic energy to the output. 
     
     
         4 . An electrosurgical apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a microwave frequency electromagnetic energy generator, and wherein the feed structure comprises a microwave channel to convey the microwave frequency electromagnetic energy to the output. 
     
     
         5 . An electrosurgical apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the rechargeable power source is a lithium-ion polymer battery. 
     
     
         6 . An electrosurgical apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a switching circuit operable to switch the rechargeable power source between a first mode for receiving power from the receiver circuit and a second mode for providing power to the oscillator. 
     
     
         7 . An electrosurgical apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the switching circuit. 
     
     
         8 . An electrosurgical apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the receiver circuit is configured to allow wired charging of the rechargeable power source. 
     
     
         9 . An electrosurgical apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the output forms a connector configured to receive energy for charging the rechargeable power source. 
     
     
         10 . An electrosurgical apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an electrosurgical instrument connected to receive electromagnetic energy from the output. 
     
     
         11 . An electrosurgical apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the electrosurgical instrument is detachably connected to the output. 
     
     
         12 . An electrosurgical apparatus according to  claim 10  or  claim 11 , wherein the electro surgical instrument is a bipolar coaxial cutting tool. 
     
     
         13 . An electrosurgical apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrosurgical apparatus comprises a housing which is adapted to be handheld by a user. 
     
     
         14 . An electrosurgical system comprising:
 an electrosurgical apparatus according to any one of  claim 1 ; and   a transmitter for wirelessly providing power to the electrosurgical apparatus.   
     
     
         15 . An electrosurgical system according to  claim 14 , wherein the transmitter comprises a transmitter circuit having an inductive coupler arranged to transmit power to the receiver circuit via inductive coupling. 
     
     
         16 . An electrosurgical system according to  claim 14  or, wherein the transmitter comprises a housing which is adapted to receive a portion of the electrosurgical apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . An electrosurgical system according  claim 14 , further comprising a wired charger configured to form a wired electrical connection with the electrosurgical apparatus for providing wired power transfer to the electrosurgical apparatus.